“Well, we don’t have much family left,” Jules said, “so we have to stick together. No word from your ghastly father, I suppose,” she added. “Is he still living in California?”

“As far as I know,” Lizzie said. “I don’t want him popping up now,” she added with feeling. “That really would be the last straw.”

“Bastard,” Jules said. “Anyway, we were talking about you. What’s going on?”

“Nothing much,” Lizzie said. “Things are dying down now. Don’t put off your holidays on my account, although aren’t the kids due back at school soon anyway?”

“Probably,” Jules sounded vague. She sighed. “Damn. They’ll send us to jail this time if Kit and Olivia take any more unapproved absence. That old buzzard of a headmistress insists they should get a full-time education.”

“She has a point,” Lizzie said drily. “And someone in your position should really be seen to uphold the law.”

“But they learn so much when we’re travelling,” Jules argued, revisiting a topic that the two of them had talked about a number of times. Lizzie, the product of boarding school, had appreciated the structure and discipline it had given her when her life was in shreds even though she had been miserable at first. Jules had argued that structure and discipline was death to the imagination.

“Look,” Jules said, “what I really rang for was to check if Bill has got the whole legal aspect of this case covered for you? He may be a leech but he’s always got good lawyers on retainer.”

“I’d rather have you,” Lizzie said involuntarily, “but yes, he has. They’re rather too aggressive for my liking. I mean, I haven’t done anything and paying a bunch of sharks makes me look guilty.”

“You know I’d act for you if I could,” Jules said, “but I could be legitimately accused of being prejudiced. Look, Lizzie, brace up. I’ll come back anyway, just in case I can help.”

“That’s really sweet of you, Jules,” Lizzie said, “but only if you’re sure. It would be good to see you, but like I said, it’s all dying down now. The police probably won’t want to interview me again. I mean, why would they?” She paused. “I’m going away for a while,” she added, “but you should be able to get me on my mobile.”

“Did you say you’re going away?” Jules bellowed. “This line is terrible. Where are you going? You should carry on as normal, you know. Otherwise you make the police suspicious.”

“I can’t carry on as normal,” Lizzie said. “I’ve got no work. Everything’s fallen through because of this thing with Dudley and Amelia. I’ve been totally contaminated and until Dudley is exonerated, I’m a pariah.”

“Bloody unfair,” Jules said. “Look, you know we’d ask you to stay with us except that the kitchen’s being redone and all the stuff is in storage, and the place is a total mess.”

“I think it’s about time I looked after myself,” Lizzie said drily, “but thank you for the thought.” She paused. “I’m going to The High.”